Government Councilor Res Schmid wants to delete a foreign language
Bye-bye, English: The Nidwaldner government councilor Res Schmid makes a explosive proposal
RES Schmid holds the language strategy with two foreign languages in the primary school. The educational director from the canton of Nidwalden suggests that only French is taught – from 5th grade.
This news will not flow into multilingual Switzerland in praise: at the end of the mandatory school, only half of the young people of German -speaking young people understand simple texts with familiar words in French – and vice versa. These are minimum requirements that are tested when checking the basic skills. The results are better in English.
In 2004, the conference of the cantonal educational directors (EDK) decided on the language strategy: according to the motto « The earlier, the better » the cantons introduced two foreign languages at primary level. Has the concept failed? Armin Hartmann (SVP), Lucerne Government Council and EDK Vice President, says that the review of basic skills is strictly separated from the language strategy.
It is clear to the EDK that knowledge of a second national language is important. You want to develop measures to improve the level. For EDK President Christophe Darbellay there is nothing less than the national cohesion at the game if cantons are tempted to abolish the early French. The canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden has already done it, in other cantons there are similar political efforts going.
Concerned feedback from the economy
Another path takes RES Schmid. The long -time education director of the canton of Nidwalden suggests banning English from primary school and starting French from the 5th grade. After 20 years of language strategy, there are no new studies to determine: « This concept has failed. »
Schmid would like to use the lessons gained by the waiver for basic skills such as mathematics and German. He points out that, for example, reading understanding according to the PISA study is getting worse. And he receives worrying feedback from the economy because of the decision -making knowledge of German.
Schmid calls for a change of course: «We must not say the results of the review of the basic skills. We have to take responsibility and raise the courage for changes. » He achieved a little success at the EDK plenary session from the end of March.
A clear majority of the cantons agreed to put the language strategy within the EDK at least to the test. Schmid did not make the demand for deleting the early English in the application – he would probably not have got through that.
Alain Pichard, educational politician (GLP) from Biel, is one of the most famous teachers in Switzerland. At the age of 69, he is currently teaching a 3. primary class in the Pieterlen suburb of Biel. Like Schmid, he would only introduce the first foreign language from the 5th grade – because it is well known that formerly foreign language teaching does not bring anything. It has to be negotiated politically whether the children should first learn English or French.
